Novell Inc. on Tuesday announced that its exteNd Application Server 5 – a platform that provides users with the means to develop J2EE Web services applications and deploy them – now supports Java Virtual Machine (JVM) 1.4, and is shipping for Linux users.
“JVM is basically a programmatic service that allows you to run Java applications from a remote server,” explained Ross Chevalier, director of technology at Novell Canada Inc., in Markham, Ont.
This means that unlike client-server style computing, by employing JVM, users don’t have to install all the Java services on their workstations and take on all the support costs associated with it.
“JVM allows you to run applications across a distance, such as across the Internet. When combined with portal solutions, such as exteNd Director, it can now create very powerful, highly scalable environments that have no client-side requirements, which means people can use those applications and run those services, regardless of where they’re located or what type of device they’re using,” Chevalier said.
ExteNd Director is another member of the exteNd Product Suite to which the Application Server belongs, along with its sibling, the exteNd Composer.
Director is an interaction and portal server that allows users to deliver and maintain Web applications while Composer is a platform that allows users to develop Web services applications leveraging both extensible markup language (XML) and J2EE. The fifth versions of these products are currently undergoing beta testing and will be available later this year. Once available, the entire v5 of the exteNd Product Suite will be put to market.
Other enhancements to the Application Server include increases in overall throughput and scalability.
Right now, only users who are running the exteNd Application Server on Linux can now upgrade to v5. However, support is upcoming for Sun Microsystems Inc.’s Solaris, Hewlett-Packard Co.’s UX, and Microsoft Corp.’s Windows platforms. Support is provided for all of these platforms in the current version of exteNd Application Server.
The reason for the early release of exteNd Application Server, without the whole exteNd suite, is because of its inclusion with NetWare 6.5 that will be released in June, Chevalier said.
Chevalier added that this product allows users to leverage any J2EE application, regardless of where the application was built. For example, users who have built J2EE applications using IBM Corp.’s WebSphere or BEA Systems Inc.’s WebLogic can run them from the exteNd Application Server.
Novell Canada is online at www.novell.ca.
